Method and apparatus for putting-out hides and skins



I Oct. 23, 1962 H. E. DAMON, JR., ETAL 3,059,451

METHOD AND APPARATUS FQR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 13, 1960 Oct. 23, 1962 H. E. DAMON, JR, ETAL 3,059,461

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS Filed May 13, 1960r-mn g #5 If 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ali . M I M H. E. DAMON, JR, ET AL Odt.23, 1962 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 13, 1960 Oct. 23, 1962 H. E. DAMON, JR., ET AL3,059,461

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS Filed May 13, 19605 Sheets-Sheet'4 M by //z Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,461

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING-OUT HIDES AND SKINS H. E. DAMON, JR.,ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 13, 1960 ttes This invention relates tothe tanning of leather and pertains more specifically to a method andapparatus for putting-out or slicking wet hides and skins, after tanningand washing, on smooth-faced drying panels.

During the manufacture of leather, the wet hides and skins, aftertanning and washing, must be dried under tension in order to produce amaterial free from objectionable wrinkles and from excessive variationin gauge. For many years the drying procedure most wide- 'ly used hasinvolved applying a layer of wet paste to a smooth flat hard surface ofglass, highly polished metal, or the like, then spreading and stretchingthe wet hide on this surface manually with the grain side next to thesmooth face of the panel, and allowing the hide to dry in position onthe panel in suitable drying ovens, after which the hide is stripped andsubjected to further processing. The foregoing procedure has not beenentirely satisfactory because even when highly skilled workers carry outthis procedure, it is impossible to obtain completely uniform resultsboth because of variations in technique from one worker to another inspreading the hide on the panel and because the technique of anindividual worker varies as he becomes fatigued. Consequent-1y, thegauge of the hide and the extent of stretching of the hide may vary fromone area to another. In addition, more water may be removed from oneportion of the hide than another by the worker during this procedure,leading to uneven drying in the oven.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor effecting greater, more extensive stretching of the wet hides andskins in order to obtain a greater footage yield of leather.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for effecting a moreuniform smoothing and stretching of wet hides and skins while beingput-out on drying panels and for providing a greater flattening effectin order to minimize imperfections such as neck wrinkles in the grainside of the leather, resulting in an up-grading of the leather product.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for subjecting wethides and skins to the spreading, stretching and smoothing action of arapidly reciprocating pasting blade.

Still another object is to provide a method and apparatus for removingadditional water from the hides during the putting-out operation, thusaccelerating the drying and making it more uniform.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the drawing and from thedescription which follows.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a View in vertical section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a view partly in vertical section taken along line 55 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a View, partly schematic and partly in section,

showing the piping and valve arrangement for pneumatic actuation of theapparatus;

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken along line 3-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in rear elevation, partly broken away, showing anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view, partly in section, taken along line 1iiiii of FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a view, partly broken away and in section, similar to FIG; 4showing another embodiment of the mounting of the putting-out blade.

As best appears in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is provided aconveyor track in the form of a T- beam it from which is suspended bymeans of yoke 12 and rollers 14 a drying panel 16 having a reinforcingmargin 17. The panel may be of any conventional construction such asglass, stainless steel, etc. The bottom margin of the panel is ledbetween a pair of fixed guides 18, 18 which serve to maintain the panelin approximately vertical position despite lateral pressure applied toeither side of the panel. Both of the opposite faces of panel 16 aresmooth and highly polished, and both are adapted to receive and supporta Wet hide 20 which is loosely adhered to the face of the panel by meansof a layer of wet paste. For the sake of simplicity, the method andapparatus of the present invention will be described only for use on oneface of the panel, but it will be understood that in actual commercialpractice the machine and method of the present invention may be appliedto both faces of each panel.

The panels 16 are continuously advanced along track 10 by any suitablemeans (not shown) which pushes each panel against the one ahead of it onthe conveyor track.

Mounted beside the path of the advancing panels and extendingtransversely thereof at a smoothing and stretching station are a pair ofspaced-apart rails 22, 22 supported by brackets 24, 24. Slidably mountedon rails 22, 22 by means of collars 26, 26 is .a platform 28. Piston rod36 of pneumatic cylinder 32 is connected to platform 28 by means of lug34. Adjustable stops 36, 36 serve to limit the sliding movement ofplatform 28 on rails 22, 22 so as to maintain the platform in thedesired position. Mounted on platform 28 and extending verticallyupwardly from it are six tracks 40, 40 in the form of T-beams, thetracks being connected at their upper ends by means of a suitable frame42 which maintains the tracks in their proper relatively spacedposition. Mounted between opposing pairs of tracks for vertical movementon rollers 44, 44 are carriers 46, 58. Carrier 46 is linked throughconnecting rod 50 to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 52 which ismounted on platform 28, while carrier 48 is linked by means ofconnecting rod 54 to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 56 mounted onframe 42. Fixed to each carrier is a laterally extending bracket 58, 60on which a holder 62, 64 is pivotally mounted by means of a suitable pin66 (see FIG. 4). The lower free end 76 of holder 62 is pivotallyconnected to pull rod 72 which passes freely through an aperture inbracket 74 secured to carrier 48. A compression spring 76 surrounds pullrod 72, extending between bracket 74 and an adjustable nut 78 threadedon the end of pull rod 72. Compression spring 76 yieldably urges holder62 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Similarly, a pull rod 82 connected to the free end 84 of holder 64 isurged by compression spring 86 to rotate holder 64 in acounter-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. '1. Adjustable stop bolts88, 90 limit the extent of rotation of each holder 62, 64 in response tothe compression spring.

Mounted in each holder 62, 64 is a conventional pneumatic or air hammer92, 94 each of which carries a con- 3,059,461 I V a ventionalputting-out blade 1%, 162. i The putting-out blade is preferably a sheetof resin-impregnated fiber or fiberboard approximately /s to 1 inchthick having a blunt or dull rounded operating edge which is adapted tobe rubbed against and to engage frictionally the surface of a wet hideor skin without cutting it. Each blade is mounted to form an acute anglewith the surface of panel 16, blade 180 converging upwardly with thepanel, and blade 102 converging with the panel in the oppositedirection. The angle between each blade and the face of the panel mayvary from 10 to as much as 65 or even more. The pneumatic hammer is of aconventional type which provides a rapid reciprocation of the blade inits own plane toward and away from drying panel 16, the reciprocationthus being in a path which is convergent with the face of panel 16 at anacute angle thereto. The amplitude of reciprocation of each blade isapproximately to inch and the rate of reciprocation is approximately to50 cycles per second.

- Mounted on each carrier 46, 48 is a pneumatic cylinder 21-8, 224 eachcarrying a piston 220, 226 in position to engage the free ends ofholders 64, 62 and move them against the compression of springs 86, 76to swing the blades 102, 100 away from the surface of panel 16 and ofhide 20.

Means are provided for controlling pneumatically the extent of verticaltravel of carrier 48 (FIG. 2) with its associated putting-out blade 180in the form of a fixed air relief valve 118 mounted on supporting rod112 which in turn is adjustably fixed to bracket 114 mounted on frame42.Air relief valve 116 (see KG. 6) consists simply of a spring-loadedvalve normally urged to closed position having'a projecting valve stem116 which serves to open valve 110 when subjected to pressure on itsfree end 1 18, An abutment 128, in position to engage the end 118 ofvalve stem 116 as carrier 48 rises, is slidably mounted in collar 122fixed to an arm 124 (FIG. 2) extending from carrier 48. A compressionspring 126 serves to urge abutment 128 to the left as seen in FIG. 6,collar 128 serving to limit the movement of abutment 120 while spline130 maintains the elongated abutment in proper vertical alignment withvalve stem 116. The ends of abutment 12.0 are rounded to permit smoothengagement of the abutment with the projecting end 118 of valve stem 116as carrier 48 moves vertically on its tracks. Opening of pressure reliefvalve 110 when abutment 1241 engages the end 118 of valve stem 116serves to control pneumatic piston 56, as will be hereinafter described,to terminate the upward movement of carrier 48.

The extent of downward movement of carrier 48 is similarly controlled bypressure relief valve 132 mounted on rod 134 in position to engageabutment 136, which in turn is secured to bracket 138 extending upwardlyfrom carrier 48. Rod 134 carries a second pressure relief valve 140which extends in position to engage an abutment 142 mounted on carrier46 which serves to limit the extent of upward movement of carrier 46.Rod 134 is mounted for vertical sliding movement through collar 143secured to frame 42, being linked through connecting rod 144 to thepiston of pneumatic cylinder 146 which is secured to platform 28.

In like manner a pressure relief valve 150 is mounted on rod 152 whichin turn is mounted for sliding movement through bracket 153 secured totrack 48, being actuated by connecting rod 154 which serves to connectit to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 156 mounted on frame 42. Pressurerelief valve 150 is in position to be engaged by abutment .158 securedto carrier 46 to limit its downward movement.

The actuating and control means for the machine, as shown in FIG. 7 ofthe drawing, includes a supply of air,

steam, or other pressure fluid controlled by foot valve' 170. When valve170 is opened, the pressure fluid is admitted to slide valves 172, 174.When the slides '176, 178 of these valves are in the position sho in thepressure fluid is admitted past slides 176, 178 into conduits 180, 182and cylinders 52, 56 serving to move carriers 46 and 48 upwardly. Valvemembers 179', 181 prevent the fluid from entering passageways 184, 186,188 or 190. Restricted passageways 177, 177 extending axially throughslides 176, 178 provide a leakage path through which fluid pressure istransmitted to opposite ends of slides 176, 178. The movement of the twocarriers continues until relief valve 110 is opened by contact with theabutment 120, and valve 140 is opened by contact with abutment 142. Thisvents the right-hand end of each slide valve 172, 174 to the atmosphere,and because passageway 177 is restricted, the pressure at that end ofeach slide 176, 178 drops, permitting the slides to be urged to theright by the fluid pressure existing at the left-hand end. This shiftsvalves 179, 181 connecting the lower end of each cylinder 52, 56 to thevent opening 184, 186 and connecting the upper end of each cylinder 52,56 with the source of fluid pressure through conduits 188, 190.Thereupon each carrier 46, 48 is moved downwardly (relief valves andclosing) until relief valves 132 and are opened by contact with theirrespective abutments 136, 158, at which point slides 176, 178 are movedto the left again (the pressure at the right-hand end of each valvehaving meanwhile been restored through restricted passageway 177) andthe operation is repeated. Slide valves 172 and 17 4 are conventionalvalves well known in the art.

The vertical position of the relief valves 13-2, 148 is controlled bymeans of a hand-actuated valve 182 which serves to admit pressure fluidthrough conduits 194, 195 to cylinder 146 while the vertical position ofrelief valve 150 is in turn controlled by hand-actuated valve 196controlling the admission of pressure fluid through conduits 198, 199 tocylinder 156.

At the same time that pressure fluid is admitted to cylinder 52 throughconduit 188 to urge carrier 46 downwardly, pressure fluid is suppliedthrough branch conduit 210 to pneumatic hammer 94 to cause rapidreciprocation of putting-out blade 102. Similarly, when fluid pressureis admitted throughconduit 182 to cylinder 56 to drive carrier 48upwardly, it is also admitted through branch conduit 212 to pneumatichammer 92 so as to reciprocate putting-out blade 100. In this situationeach of blades 100, 102 is yieldably urged toward panel 16 by means ofcompression springs 76, 86.

When pressure fluid is admitted through conduit to cylinder 52 to drivecarrier 46 upwardly, the pressure fluid is simultaneously admittedthrough branch conduit 216 to cylinder 218, driving piston 220 outwardlyand causing holder 64 to pivot counterclockwise about its support andwithdraw blade 102 from panel 16. In the same manner, when pressurefluid is introduced through conduit to cylinder 56 to move carrier 48downwardly, it is simultaneously admitted through conduit 222 tocylinder 224, driving piston 226 against holder 62 and rotating it in aclockwise direction to move blade 100 away from panel 16 and hide 20.

Because the extent of movement of blades 100, 102 away from panel 16upon actuation of pistons 220 and 226 is insuflicient to permit theblades to clear the reinforced margins 17 of the panels, a separatemanually controlled valve 230 is provided to supply pressure fluid tocylinder 32 in order to move the entire platform 28 to ward and awayfrom panel 16 in order to permit margins 17 of the panels to pass blades100, 102.

In operation of the device to carry out the method of the presentinvention, a coating of wet paste is first applied to the smooth face ofpanel 16 as by spraying in conventional fashion, after which a wet hideor skin 20 is loosely adhered in place manually. Panel 16 then advancespast the smoothing and stretching station at which the platform 28 islocated. Valve 230 is actuated to withdraw platform 28 from the path ofthe, advanc Pa 16 to permit its marginal portion 17 to pass blades 100102. Valve 230 is then actuated to move platform 28 toward panel 16 andbring it up against its stops 36, 36. Foot valve 170 and valve 192 arethen actuated to move control rod 134 with its pressure relief valves132, 140 to such a position that blade 100 mounted on carrier 48 willbegin its upward stroke, and blade 102 mounted on carrier 46 will beginits downward stroke, close to the midline of the wet hide or skin. Valve196 is also actuated to move control rod 152 into position to terminatethe downward movement of carrier 46 and its associated blade 102 at somepoint beneath the lower margin of the hide or skin. It is normallyunnecessary to adjust the position of control rod 112, each hide 20being placed on panel 16 with its upper edge in approximately the sameposition.

As foot valve 170 continues to be held open, carriers 46, 48 arereciprocated vertically on their supporting tracks, blades 100 and 102being yieldably pressed against the wet hide or skin while they arerapidly reciprocated by hammers 92, 94 as the blades are advanced in thedirection of convergence of each blade with the face of the panel, i.e.,toward the apex of the angle formed between the blade and the face ofthe panel. The course through which each blade advances is thus parallelto the face of the panel and transverse to the direction of travel ofthe panel. During the return of the blades, they are withdrawn fromcontact with hide 20 by pistons 220, 226 and their rapid reciprocationby hammers 92, 94 is interrupted. Successive sweeping advances of blades100, 102 across the skin are made as panel 16 continues to advance pastthe smoothing and stretching station until the entire hide or skin hasbeen subjected to the action of the reciprocating blades. The speed ofadvance of panel 16 is such that each course of a blade across the Wethide overlaps slightly the preceding course of the same blade, thussubjecting the entire surface of the hide to the action of the blades.If desired, panel 16 may remain stationary while platform 28 is movedpast it, the essential feature being only that there be relativemovement of the panel and the smoothing and stretching station.

When it is desired to have both blade 100 on carrier 48 and blade 102 oncarrier 46 begin their strokes from positions adjacent each other, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, so that they move simultaneouslyin opposite directions, the slides 176, 178 will be at opposite ends oftheir respective valves as seen in schematic FIG. 7 instead of at thesame ends, and will move in op posite directions.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, control rods 134, 152 are secured toracks 240, 242 driven by pinions 244, 246, respectively, which are keyedto shaft 248 of reversible electric motor 250 controlled by aconventional reversing switch (not shown). Pinion 246 is twice thediameter of pinion 244, causing rack 242 and control rod 152 to movetwice as far as rack 240 and control rod 134.

I This ensures that no matter what the position of control rod 134 andrelief valves 132, 140 which actuate carriers 46, 48 to start theiroperative advances, the length of advance of both carriers will remainthe same. This arrangement facilitates operation of the device, since bymaintaining the starting position for the advance of carriers 46, 48near the vertical midpoint of the irregularly shaped hide as it is movedwith panel 16 past the machine station, this arrangement ensures thatstretching tension is applied to the hide in both upward and downwarddirection equally and produces more uniform results.

While manually and pneumatically controlled valves have been shown forcontrolling the supply of air or steam to cylinders 32, 52 and 56 whichserve as prime movers, it will be understood that any other conventionalcontrols may be employed. For example, conventional solenoid-actuatedfour-way valves may be used in place of slide valves 172, 174 in whichcase limit switches will take the place of relief valves 110, 132, 140and 150. Similarly, a solenoid-actuated valve and reversing switch mayreplace valve 230.

It is found that the rapid vibration or reciprocation of the blades,together with the yieldable pressure of the blade against the surface ofthe wet hide, serves to provide remarkably uniform smoothing andstretching action upon the hides, extracting a uniform high percentageof water from the hide and subjecting the hide to a uniformly highstretch while pasting it to the face of the drying panel. In some cases,however, vibration or reciprocation of the blades is not essential andthe blade may be merely clamped or otherwise fixedly secured to itsholder. One such construction is shown in FIG. 11, in which blade isfixed to a rigid handle 281 which in turn is secured in holder 62 bymeans of set-screw 282.

While the embodiment shown incorporates only a single pair ofputting-out blades, it will be appreciated that additional pairs ofblades may be provided, operated in like manner.

This application is a continuation in part of copending applicationSerial No. 811,139, filed May 5, 1959.

Although specific embodiment-s of the invention have been describedherein, it i not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but toinclude all of the obvious variations and modifications within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and skins on a smooth flatsurface for drying comprising a putting-out blade mounted to form anacute angle with said surface, means for advancing said blade acrosssaid surface in a direction toward the apex of said acute angle, meansfor yieldingly urging said blade toward said surface while it isadvancing, and means for rapidly reciprocating said blade in its ownplane toward and away from said surface during its advance across saidsurface.

2. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and skins on a smooth surface fordrying comprising a putting-out blade having an operating edge adaptedto engage said hides and skins without cutting, means for rapidlyreciprocating said edge in a path extending toward and away from saidsurface at an acuate angle thereto, and means for :advancing saidreciprocating blade edge across said surface in the direction in whichsaid path converges with said surface to stretch said hides and skinsinto intimate contact with said surface.

3. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and skins on a smooth dryingsurface which comprises a putting-out 'blade having an operating edgeadapted to engage hides and skins frictionally without cutting, meansfor rapidly reciprocating said operating edge toward and away from saidsurface along a path converging with said surface at an acute angle,means for advancing said reciprocating edge across said surface in thedirection in which said path converges with said surface and forreturning said openating edge in the opposite direction, means foryieldingly pressing said reciprocating edge toward said surface in adirection transverse to said path while it advances to engage hides andskins spread against said surface, and means for withdrawing saidoperating edge from contact with said hides and skins during saidreturn.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 comprising in addition means forterminating the advance of said reciprocating edge at a selected pointand for initiating its return.

5. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and the like comprising asmooth-surfaced drying panel to the face of which said hides are adaptedto be pasted, said panel being arranged to be advanced past a smoothingand stretching station, means at said station for smoothing andstretching said hide comprising a putting-out blade having an operatingedge adapted to engage said hide frictionally without cutting it, meansfor rapidly reciprocating said operating edge toward and away from saidpanel along a path converging with the face thereof :at an acute angle,means for yieldingly urging said reciprocating edge in a directiontransverse to said path toward the face of said panel and into contactwith said hide, and means for advancing said edge along a coursegenerally parallel to the face of the panel and transverse to thedirection of travel of said panel, the advance of said edge being in thedirection in which said path converges with said panel face, to smoothand press said hide into intimate contact with the face of the panelwhile stretching said hide.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim in which said smoothing and stretchingmeans comprises two putting-out blades, the path of reciprocation of theoperating edge of each said blade being oppositely inclined toward theface of said panel with respect to the other, and includes means foradvancing each said operating edge along said course in a directionopposite to the other.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said puttingout blades aremounted for advance of their operating edges in courses parallel andadjacent to each other.

8. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and the like upon a smooth-faceddrying panel comprising smoothing and stretching means including firstand second puttingout blades each having an operating edge adapted torub against a hide without cutting it, said smoothing and stretchingmeans and said panel being arranged to be moved past each other with ahide loosely adhered to the face of the panel, means for advancing eachoperating edge along a course parallel to the face of the panel andtransverse to the direction of relative movement of said panel and saidsmoothing and stretching means, the course of each operating edge beingparallel and adjacent to the course of the other and the direction ofadvance of each operating edge being opposite to that of the other,adjustable means for terminating the advance of each operating edge andreturning it to its starting point, said means being adjustable tocoordinate the starting points of both operating edges so that theyadvance from adjacent the middle of a hide in opposite directions towardthe margins thereof, means for yieldingly urging each said operatingedge toward the face of said panel during the advance of said edge andfor drawing each said edge away from the face of the panel during thereturn of the edge, and means for rapidly reciprocating each said edgealong a path generally parallel to its course and converging with theface of the panel at an acute angle in the direction of advance of saidedge to smooth and stretch said hide into close contact with the face ofsaid panel.

9. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and skins on a smooth flatsurface for drying comprising a putting-out blade having an operatingedge adapted to engage hides and skins frictionally without cutting, andmeans for rapidly reciprocating said blade in its own plane in adirection transverse to said operating edge.

10. Apparatus for putting-out wet hides and skins on a smooth flatsurface for drying comprising at least one pair of putting-out bladeseach having an operating edge adapted to engage hides and skinsfrictionally without cutting, means for advancing each blade of a pairin a path across said surface simultaneously with and in a directionopposite to the other blade of said pair and for yieldingly urging eachblade toward said surface while it is advancing, the operating edges ofsaid pair of blades being initially positioned adjacent each'other atthe beginning of said advance and remote from each other at the end ofsaid advance, and means for varying the initial position of eachoperating edge along said paths while maintaining their initialpositions adjacent each other.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which means is provided forvarying the terminal position of the operating edge of at least oneblade of apair.

12. Apparatus as'defined in claim 11 including means for maintaining thelength of advance of each blade substantially equal to that of the otherblade of a pair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 17,576Hammell June 16, 1857 115,709 Collins June 6, 1871 157,691 Lockwood Dec.15, 1874 967,986 Smith Aug. 23, 1910 985,466 Smith Feb. 28, 19111,660,022 Wright Feb. 21, 1928 1,660,023 Wright Feb. 21, 1928 1,920,341Ballard Aug. 1, 1933 2,118,070 Connor May 24, 1938

